Fire-escape



(No Model) J. D. NIEHAUS.

PIRE ESCAPE N0. 500 030 I Wr??? r IIIHII UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN DAVID NIEHAUS, OF NE \VATERFORD, OHIO.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

lSPEC!IFICA'UION forming part of Letters Patent No. 500,030, dated June 20, 1893.

Application filed August 8,l 1892.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN DAVID NIEHAUS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Waterford, in the county of Columbiana and State of Ohio,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Myinvention relates to [ire-escapes, and has for its object the production of a light, durable, flexible ladder together With means for coilin g and compactly storing the same, or for readily adjusting and securing it in position for use.

Located ordinarily in the top story of a building, my improved escape is arranged, and adapted to be of equal service to occupants of the rooms immediately below as well as adjoining rooms and halls, since by the aid of adjustable platform, attachments constituting part of the invention, each Window in the tier past which vthe ladder descends, is rendered an equally good exit, while at the same time, the ladder being located to oneside of the Windows is protected from heat, smoke or llame that might issue therefrom.

The invention Willbe hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which form partof this speciiication,Figure l, represents a perspective view of the invention applied to a building and in position for use; Fig. 2, a similar View, with ladder stored as when not in use; Fig. 3, a plan view of the device, and Fig. 4, a perspective view of a hinged and sliding lid for covering the ladder when stored.

Reference being had to the accompanying drawings and letters thereon, A, indicates a flexible ladder, consisting of side links, of any Y approved construction, connected at suitable distances by rungs a, and preferably formed entirely of metal,in order that it may be noncombustible.

B, is a storing case more or less ornamental in appearance, located inside and below a Window-sill b, and containing a windlass O, and roller c, both j ournaled in the sides of said case, as shown by Fig. 3. To windlass C is permanently secured one end of ladder A, the same passing first over roller c, While one of Serial No. 442,440. (No model the windlass bearings is projected through the tion on the Lipper outside edges of the sides of case B, thus providing for a sliding movement of the lid, and at the same time permitting its section F to be raised freely when so desired.

Ou either side of a window, bolted to the brick work or masonry of a building employing a tire escape, constructed in accordance with my invention, is an angular metallic rod G, the short arm thereof H projecting substantially at right angles to the front of building, serving to support the ladder A, when in position for use, and also as a hand rail,when used in connection with an adjustable platform l, as clearly shown by Fig. l. Platform I, is supported upon a pivoted bracket J, journaled in bearings 71, h, attached to the front of thebuilding, and consequently moves in an arc of a circle, resting beneath sill b or a recess therein, so that when closed it projects into the case B immediately beneath its lid E, F, as in Fig. 2,but when Withdrawn for use as a platform assumes the position shown by Figs. 1 and 3, and isretained securely in such position during use by the operation of leaf spring i, attached to the side of case B.

Spring is normally depressed by engagement of the curved ,edge of platform I, but

when the latter is withdrawn for use its rear extremity passes the free end of said spring which is immediately released Vand assumes the position shown by Fig. 8, Where it abuts against the rear side of platform I, and prevents its accidental return. The opposite or front edge of the platform is provided with a weather strip j, designed to close the opening beneath sill b when the escape is not in use.

The flexible ladder A, may be made of any preferred form or material, and is provided at its free ends with suitable hooks 7c k, for engaging arm H of rod G, when stored, thus ICO facilitating its ready adjustment in case of ladder at a point above platform I.

It is obvious that straigh'tbolts orbars projecting at right angles from the building on one or both sides of a window may be substituted for the angular bar G, H; 0r such bolts may be made detachable or adjustable, if preferred, and inlike manner many minor changes may be madeand'substituted for the construction herein shown and described, without in the least departing from the spirit of my invention, which having been thus described, Y

l. In a fire-escape the combinationwith a flexible ladder, of an independent supporting bar therefor arranged to one side of a Window, and an adjustable platform adapted to be projected from the building and afford an approach to the ladder, substantially as described.

2. In a tire-escape thecombination of a flexible ladder, a supporting bar therefor arranged to one side of a window, an adjustable platform adapted to slide beneath the window sill, and a swiveled bracketsupporting the outer end of said platform, substantially as described.

3. In a fire-escape the combination ofa ilexible ladder, a supporting bar therefor projecting from the building on both sides of awindow, an adjustable platform arranged to slide beneath the window sill, a facing on the outer edge of the platform, and a swiveled bracket supporting the outer portion of said platform, substantially as described.

4. In ahrc-escape the combination cfa flexible ladder, secured to a windlass arranged within abuilding, an y independent support therefor at one side of a window, anda horizontallyadjustable platform adapted to be projected from the building aording an approach to the ladder, substantially as described.

5; In a fire-escape the combination ofa [lexible ladder attached to a windlass contained within a case located in the building, a guiding roller also in said case, a support for the ladder projecting from either side 0f a window, and an adjustable platform adapted to slide beneath the window, substantially as described. t

6. In a fire-escape the combination of astor ing case, a roller and a windlass journaled in the sides'thereof, a sliding lid for said case,

flexible ladder attached to the windlass, a support for the ladder at one side of a window, an adjustable platform :sliding beneath the window sill, and a spring on the case for retaining the platform'in position when pro-fv jected, substantially as described.

7. In a fireescape the combination ofa storing case located, in a building,a guiding roller and a windlass journaled therein, a sliding and vertically moying two part lid for said case, a flexible ladder attached to the windlass,a support for the ladder at one side of a window, an adjustable platform sliding beneath the window-sill, and a spring for retaining the latter in position when projected, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof Isubscribe my signature in presence of .two witnesses.

JOI-IN DAVID NIEHAUS.

Witnesses:

D. C. NEVIN,- W. H. MITCHELL. 

